Flash Flood — Wyoming, West Virginia

2004-05-31 · near North Portion, Wyoming, West Virginia

Event narrative

The rain maximum came out of southern Logan County and rain east, across northern portions of Wyoming County. The maximum rain amount in the 3.5 to 4 inch range was likely for northern Wyoming County. This included portions of Huff Creek, Clear Fork including its Trace Fork, and Laurel Fork. Oceana measured 3.5 inches. Pineville had 2.4 inches. Flood water from Huff Creek surrounded an elderly couple's home in Cyclone. The 71 year old husband went to his flooded basement to check on a water pump, which ran on gasoline. Apparently, he fell unconscious from the exhaust fumes and drowned. His wife was also overcome, but was rescued and revived. The lower sections of Oceans were flooded.Damage assessment had 5 homes destroyed in Wyoming County, plus 6 more homes with major damage.

Wider weather episode

The flash flooding in Mingo, Logan, and Wyoming Counties became part of the federal disaster area. Additional flooding, but on a more localized scale, would occur in the disaster area in early June. Around 500 National Guard troops were used in the flood cleanup and recovery. Some of the units had just returned from 14 months in Irag. The only uniform available to some of the troops, was what they wore home. The rest of their gear was still awaiting shipment back to West Virginia. As a result, some of the troops were in desert camouflage, while working in Mingo County. One soldier said, "they won't care what we're wearing, just as long as we're down here." In comparison to Mingo, Logan, and Wyoming Counties, the flooding was minor across sections of Raleigh and Boone Counties. The Marsh Fork and the Clear Fork basins of western Raleigh County saw a dampened rain maximum compared to points further west. Rains of 2.5 to 3 inches were measured in parts of Raleigh County. The stream gauge on the Clear Fork near Leevale crested at the 18 foot bankfull level. A rain maximum of 3 to 3.5 inches likely fell over extreme southeastern portions of Boone County. This caused minor flooding along the Pond and Spruce Forks, plus the Little Coal River near Madison and Danville. One house was moved off its foundation by a landslide along Route 3 between Seth and Orgas.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5397962. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.